BACKGROUND RESEARCH

First Unitarian Church of Rochester

Louis I. Kahn. (American, born Estonia. 1901–1974). First Unitarian Church, Rochester, New York. Floor plan. 1961. The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania, by the gift of the First Unitarian Church, Rochester.

Background Info.

The First Unitarian Church in Rochester, New York was designed by architect Louis Kahn in 1959 to replace the previous church designed in 1859 by architect Richard Upjohn, founder of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Kahn's idea of the building began with a concept sketch that represented his understanding of Unitarian aspirations, with several concentric circles surrounding a central question mark. This led, through several iterations, to the final design in which the sanctuary (where questions are raised and addressed) is surrounded by a corridor and classrooms. The problem of bringing natural light into the central space was solved by the four light towers which are perhaps the most distinctive feature of the building.

An addition completed in 1969 at the east end of the building was also designed by Kahn.

In the late 1950s construction of Midtown Plaza required the demolition of our downtown church building. The congregation resolved to replace that building (designed by Richard Upjohn, founder of the American Institute of Architects) with one by a leading 20th century architect. A search committee interviewed a number of nationally known architects before recommending Louis Kahn.

Kahn's initial concept sketch began with a question mark, chosen to represent the sanctuary, at the center of the building surrounded by a circle to serve as an ambulatory representing the shades of belief possible in a Unitarian congregation. Surrounding all were the classrooms of the church school, in Kahn's words "so the school became the walls which surround the question." Development of the central sanctuary presented the architect with a practical problem: how to bring natural light into a totally enclosed space. Kahn's solution was four large towers at the corners of the central room, through which the changing light of the seasons and the days fills the room "like a silver chalice" as one author has said.

Other Info. About Light into Chuch

Making the sanctuary central presented the architect with a practical problem: how to bring natural light into a totally enclosed space. Kahn felt strongly about light: "All spaces need natural light. That is because the moods which are created by the time of day and seasons of the year are constantly helping you in evoking what a space can be if it has natural light and can't be if it doesn't. Artificial light is a single tiny static moment in light and can never equal the nuances of mood created by the time of day and the wonder of the seasons."

For the Unitarian Church, natural light floods in through four towers piercing the corners of the central room. The changing light of the seasons and the days fills the room "like a silver chalice," as one author has said.

Bringing natural light to the outside rooms, the walls of the school, presented another problem. Kahn said that he "felt the starkness of light, learning to be conscious of glare." So the windows are protected, set in deep masonry reveals. Each room on the lower floor of the main building has a side-lighted window seat set between two large glass areas.